Fire-resistant wall construction



Dec. 31, 1968 J, R, MANDERBACH ET AL 3,418,776

FIRE-RESISTANT WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed June 2l, 1966 Twill /6 Tmp' l-*I /5 BY '9 .g 7l ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1968 3,418,776 FIRE-RESISTANT WALL CONSTRUCTION James R. Manderbach, Hacienda Heights, and Paul Pestel, Anaheim, Calif., assignors to The Flintkote Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 559,184 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-481) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The wall is composed of Wall studs to which are secured horizontal T -shaped metal strips. Horizontal panels of gypsum wallboard are secured to the wall studs and to the metal strips, with the stem of the T-shaped metal strips being fitted between the abutting edges of the wallboard panels. The stern of each metal strip is recessed from the outermost surface of the wallboard so as to give a smooth outer wall surface, and the joints are staggered on opposite sides of the wall so as to increase the re resistance of the wall.

This invention relates generally to the construction of walls and more particularly to a dry wall type of construction involving the use of wallboard panels.

The term Walls, as used herein, includes ceilings as well as walls.

One object of the invention is to provide a Wall construction of the indicated type having a high degree of resistance to re. In wall constructions in general use today the `joints between the wallboard panels are sealed with tapes of paper, cloth, asbestos and appropriate cementation compounds or they are covered with moulding or reinforced on the back of the wallboard with strips of gypsum laminated in a position to bridge the joint. These prior wall constructions have not proved to be entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of fire resistance, one diiculty being the inadequate resistance to the passage of fire at the joints between the abutting edges of the panels.

The wall construction in accordance with the invention achieves a high degree of re resistance by providing an improved joint sealing construction whereby the edges of the wallboard panels are sealed and bridged to provide greater resistance to the passage of tire at the joints. Moreover, this construction provides additional reinforcement for the joints and adds rigidity to the Wall, partition or ceiling system.

Wall constructions in which the wallboard panels are mounted to extend horizontally relative to the studs or other framing member have several advantages. As used herein, the horizontal mounting shall be construed as meaning that the panels are mounted in rows extending transversely across the studs or joists of a wall or ceiling i construction thereby providing transversely extending joints. One advantage of the horizontal application of the wallboard panels is that the erection of the Wall can be achieved more quickly and the joints are easier to treat. Also, with the horizontal application there is no need to be concerned with the very accurate stud spacing which is necessary in a vertical installation to insure the provision of the proper fastening area on the stud ange, it being noted that in vertical installations the vertically extending joints are located in alignment with the studs whereat they are mounted. Moreover, since the commercially available panels are made in a four foot width and eight to sixteen foot lengths, in the case of walls having a height greater than eight feet the horizontal type of application of the wallboard is particularly desirable since there are fewer joints. While the horizontal panel mounting has the many advantages discussed above, one disadvantage of prior horizontal mounting constructions is that they have not been entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of resistance to fire. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a wall construction involving the horizontal application of panels which has improved iire resistance properties.

The above and other objects and features of the invenvention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a vertical cross-section of a wall construction in accordance with the invention, said section being taken on lines 1-1 of FIGURE 3 and being broken away to illustrate features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating one of the joint in FIGURE l and the manner in which it is afxed to a stud member;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the Wall construction shown in FIGURE 1 with parts being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a plan section taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate an upright wall construction in accordance with the invention, there is shown a pair of vertically extending studs 10 arranged in parallel spaced relation. At their bottom ends, the studs 10 are mounted within an upwardly facing, U- shaped channel track 12. As is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the channel track 12 rests with its base on the oor, the Hoor line being indicated at 14. The top ends of the studs 10 are mounted within a downwardly facing, U-shaped channel track 16 which normally would contact the ceiling structure. The studs 10 may be attached at each leg to the side legs of the channel tracks 12 and 16 by any suitable fastening means, such as by friction itting the ends of the studs 10 within the channel tracks 12 and 16 or by using self-tapping screws, rivets or spot welds. The studs 10 may have the generally U-shaped cross-section shown in FIGURE 4 or may take any suitable shape.

The above-described portion of the foaming for the wall construction is essentially conventional. In accordance with the invention there is provided a plurality of horizontally extending strips 18 shown in detail in FIG- URE 5. The strips are made from a relatively thin strip of metal bent to the configuration shown in FIGURE 5. The strip 18 has a generally T-shaped cross-section dened by a pair of ilange portions 20 and 22 forming the cross-piece of the T anda fold portion 24 dening the leg of the T. The flange portions 20 and 22 project from the open end of the fold portion 24 so as to be perpendicular thereto and, preferably, have the same width. By way of example, the Width of the strip 18 may be from 3 to 4 inches.

The strips 18 are mounted on the studs 10 to extend horizontally or transversely thereacross with the ange portions 20 and 22 of each strip 18 in contact with side legs of the studs 10. Accordingly, the fold portions 24 of each strip 18 project outwardly from the side legs of the studs 10 to provide a horizontally extending ledge. As best shown in FIGURES l and 3, the strips 18 are staggered on opposite sides of the wall construction so as to be vertically spaced relative to each other. This also improves the re resistance of the wall construction by avoiding aligned horizontal joints. However, the improved wall construction itself of this invention effectively increases resistance to the passage of fire through the joints at the abutting edges of the panel without the aforesaid staggering of the strips 18. A plurality of wallboard panels 30 are secured to the frame structure described above to provide the wall facing on each side of the wall construction. The panels 30 are arranged end-to-end in vertically stacked transversely extending rows. The wallboard panels 30 are preferably of the type known in the art as gypsum board although other suitable re resistant wallboards may be used. Such panels are rectangular in shape and have a thickness of Bs, 1/2 or 5A; of an inch. When the wallboard panels 30 are applied in transversely extending rows, the vertical spacing between adjacent strips on the same wall is the same as the panel width, with the spacing between the lloor or the ceiling and an adjacent strip being such as to accommodate the staggered stripy arrangement discussed above. There is provided a strip 18 at each horizontal joint between adjacent rows of the panels as is shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The strips 18 are positioned with the flange portions 20 and 22 in contact with the side legs of the studs and the fold portions extending between the abutting edges of the panels 30 at the joints.

The wallboard panels 30 are secured to the frame structure by suitable fastening means such as the self-tapping screws 32 shown in FIGURE 2. The screws are spaced a suitable distance along the vertical studs 10, along the horizontal tracks 12 and 16 and along the horizontal strips 118, such as for example, from nine to twelve inches apart. Accordingly, the mounting screws 32 serve to fasten the strips 18 to the studs 10 as well as to fasten the panels to the framing. It will be noted that the upper and lower edges of the panels 30 are thus held tightly against the adjacent ange portions of the associated strips 18 and by reason of the use of screws, the panel may be drawn into intimate contact with the flange portions of the strips 18 and with the studs 10. This serves to position the panels 30 in the same plane with a high degree of accuracy.

Alternatively, the mounting screws 32 need not fasten the strips 18 to the studs 10. Instead, the strips 18 may have a friction t at the joints of abutting panels 30, and the mounting screws 32 would be fastened (not shown) through the panels 30 and the studs 10 at a point remote from the intersection of a stud 10 with a strip 18. In like manner, the panels 30 need not be attached to the tracks 12 and 16. Instead, the mounting screws 32 may fasten the panels 30 to the studs 10 at points removed from the tracks 12 and 16 as well as at points removed from the intersection of the strips 18 and the studs 10.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the strip 18 is constructed to provide a projecting ledge, provided by the fold portion 24, which is less than the thickness of the wallboard panel 30. Accordingly, there is provided a construction wherein the projecting end of the strip 18 is set back from the outer face of the panel 30. This arrangement has the advantage of providing a. very smooth joint between the adjacent horizontally extending edges of the panels 30 since the adjacent edges may be placed very closely together. In fact, with the right angular edges on the panel, if the panel edge should be compressed inwardly, it is possible to achieve almost a ush contact at the horizontal joints. Moreover, the strip construction shown in FIG- URE 2 involves less damage to the edges of the wallboard during their assembly as compared with a ledge which projects out beyond the front face of the wallboard.

In assembling the panels 30 on the studs 18, it is desirable that all vertical joints on opposite sides of the Wall be staggered a minimum amount equal to the spacing between the studs thereby assuring effective resistance to the passage of Iiire through the joints at labutting edges of the panel. Alternatively, an :arrangement whereby there are aligned vertical joints on opposite sides of the wall is also satisfactory in providing effective resistance to the passage of fire through the aforesaid joints.

Regarding the materials to be used in the wall construction in accordance with the invention, the panels 30 are preferably gypsum board and the frame structure, including the studs 10, the channels 12 and 15 and the strips 118, are preferably of metal, such as for example, 0.022 inch galvanized steel. Alternatively, the studs 10 may be wood. When the studs 10 are wood, the wall construction still exhibits excellent tire resistive qualities. A wall construction of these materials provides a very effective fire resistant structure.

It will be apparent that by the above-described wall construction, each of the horizontal joints between the panels is bridged by the strips 18. This provides a joint which is very resistant to the passage of re.

It will be noted that the strips 18 may be made in relatively long lengths and, as mounted, will traverse a plurality of the studs 10. Moreover, the Strips 18 may be located between the studs and the wallboard panels 30 because of their relatively thin construction. This construction involves considerable efliciency in the cost of material and in the speed of erection of the wall as compared with a wall structure involving separate transverse members extending between each stud.

lt will be understood that Various changes and modifications may be -made in the described form of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the scope of the invention except as required by the following claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A fire resistant interior wall construction comprising a plurality of elongated frame members mounted in substantially parallel and spaced relation, a plurality of panels of lire-resistant material secured to said frame members and arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows extending transversely of said frame members, the adjacent edges 0f the panels forming joints therebetween extending transversely of said frame members, and a plurality of thin strips extending transversely across said frame members in alignment with said transverse joints, said strips being of fire resistant material and having a ledge portion projecting between the adjacent edges of the panels at said transverse joints, said ledge portion extending vto a position lo cated a substantial distance inwardly from the outermost faces of said panels, said adjacent edges of said panels being substantially planar, parallel to and coextensive with said ledge portion, said edges extending outwardly beyond sad ledge portion, the spacing between said edges being equal to or less than the thickness of said ledge portion, said strips having flange portions behind said panels, a plurality of fasteners projecting into said panels and said strips to secure said panels to said strips with said frame members bridging said transverse joints, said row of panels being provided on both sides of said frame members to provide a pair of wall faces, said transversely extending rows of panels being arranged so that the transversely extending joints on opposite sides of the frame members are staggered relative to the transversely extending joints on the other side of the frame members, whereby said strips provide resistance to the passage of re through said joints.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,891 6/1931 Bemis 52--481 X 2,010,412 S/l935 Parsons 52-481 X 2,229,535 1/1941 Weber et al 52-393 X 3,309,826 3/1967 Zinn 52--241 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

